Maybe your teeth aren’t as white or as straight as you would like them to be.  It is not uncommon to experience a lack of self-esteem due to simple cosmetic issues with our teeth.  Fortunately there are many options when it comes to getting your pearly whites back into shape and one such option is veneers.  The first thing to do when considering this path is to understand exactly what they are and how they work.

How Veneers Work

Veneers are extremely thin tooth covers that are made to match any shade of teeth.  They can be attached to the front of teeth and used to change the size and shape of each tooth according to the patients preferences.  There are two commonly materials used to create these veneers: porcelain and resin.  Resin is used much less frequently now due to better stain resistance and better light reflecting of porcelain.  Regardless of which materials are used, there are quite a few different cosmetic issues that veneers can help to resolve.

Problems Veneers can Help With

One such thing that often can be addressed by veneers are teeth that have spaces in between them.  These gaps can really put a damper on your grin.  However, they can easily be addressed by utilizing veneers to cover these spaces.  Other issues that this option can help with are broken and chipped teeth, improperly shaped or aligned teeth and even teeth that are discolored and cannot be helped through typical whitening treatments.

Installing Veneers

When a patient chooses to get veneers it usually requires at least 3 visits to the dentist.  The first is just for a consultation and to form a plan to care for you and meet your goals.  The next visit usually involves creating a mold or dental impressions of the teeth to be worked on and then filing down a small amount of the tooth where the veneer will be placed. In about 1 to 2 weeks the dentist will likely receive the veneers back from the lab.  Once they are received the 3rd visit takes place where the dentist spends time properly fitting them and adjusting the color by using a different cement shade.  Then any extra cement is cleared away and the dentist will verify the bite and fit are correct and possibly schedule one additional visit to verify that your gums are healthily responding to the presence of the new veneers.

Dental veneers are not a completely permanent solution but they do usually last for around 5 to 10 years depending on proper oral care such as brushing and flossing regularly.  Veneers are typically stain resistant but this doesn’t mean they cannot be stained so it may be recommended to stay away from some foods or beverages that may cause stains.  While veneers may not be the perfect choice for every case, they can often restore a lot of confidence in those who have dealt with discoloration or deformities of their teeth.

Image courtesy of marin at FreeDigitalPhotos.net